Marine LED Lighting System and Method

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus of lighting a marine habitat for growth utilizing an LED light system. The light system includes an LED light source, a power supply for such light source and a controller for controlling the activation status and the intensity of the LED light source.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/529,645, entitled “Aquarium Lighting System for Marine Growth, filedon Dec. 15, 2003, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporatedtherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a lighting system and methodfor marine growth and more specifically to a light-emitting diode-based(LED) lighting system that delivers programmable spatially andspectrally controlled light with the ability to provide optimal spectraloutput for sustenance and growth of marine life.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are many lighting systems currently available that either promotegrowth for land-based plants or are used for decoration or illuminationof marine life. However, none of the prior art describes a system forpromotion of marine life using light-emitting diode based lighting.

Plant growth lighting systems and apparatus are common in many fieldsthat include crop production, germination, tissue culture growth,horticulture, landscape architecture, and specialty growth systems.Although these systems provide for support of plant growth anddevelopment in terrestrial applications, none is suitable as a growthsystem for plants in aquatic settings. For productive growth, marineplants and animal life such as coral and algae require (at least in alimited manner) light of a specific intensity and within a specificrange of wavelengths. Light quality and quantity are degraded as you godeeper in water which can preclude healthy sustenance at depths below afew feet without powerful lighting systems.

Marine growth apparatus are available for cultivating or permitting thegrowth of marine life. These systems typically consist of structuresthat provide a surface that permits the growth of coral, algae and othermarine life, or provide a portable or permanent habitat for marine lifeto grow within. These include systems that are used for artificial coralreef development, coral reef regeneration, harvesting of marine life forfood, and marine aquaculture for jewelry and ornamental aquariums. Theseinventions are typically passive apparatus that rely on natural solarlight for illumination and do not use spatially or spectrallycontrollable artificial lighting to promote or accelerate growth.

Finally, aquarium lighting systems are also common and include lightsources using fluorescent, incandescent, metal halide or light emittingdiodes. These systems can be classified into two types. In type one, theprimary purpose is to provide illumination to an underwater space. Theycontain a housing, light source within said housing, and means of powersupply or connection to power supply. The light is not spatiallycontrollable, but instead attempts to provide a consistent intensityabove an area of the marine habitat. These systems use fluorescent,incandescent or metal halide light sources, which provide low intensitylight with high radiant heat output and no user-defined spectralcontrol. Maintenance is required on these systems (through light sourcebulb replacement) to maintain light intensity over time.

In type two, the primary purpose of the lighting system is to providedecorative lighting, including artificial moon light or coloredlighting, to the marine landscape. These systems are not intended toprovide sufficient quantity of light and are only supplemental to otherlight that supports healthy sustenance and growth. They contain ahousing, a colored light source usually consisting of light-emittingdiodes, lasers, color wheels or filters combined with a light source, orultra-violet illumination, and a power supply or connection to powersupply. They may or may not be portable or submersible systems thatdirect light at specific marine features.

Neither of these two types of marine lighting systems and apparatus isdesigned with an LED source offering spatial control of spectral outputwhich can allow a user-defined or preprogrammed appropriate spectrum forgrowth of specific marine plant and animal life. Though the above aresatisfactory for their designed applications, there is a continuing needfor a marine lighting system that can be used to promote marine plantand animal life while offering the user spatial and spectral control.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a lighting system for marine growth andmore specifically to a light-emitting diode-based (LED) lighting systemthat delivers spatially and spectrally controlled light with optionaloptimal spectral output for growth of marine life. Such systems areparticularly applicable to photobioreactors, fish hatcheries andaquariums, among others. Improved growth is achieved due to userprogrammable spectral and spatial control of light to allow fororganism-specific lighting conditions with optional portability andsubmergibility for even greater light intensity delivery.

LED lighting technology is able to deliver-high intensity light into amarine environment in a new way when compared to traditional systems.The use of LEDs enables the system to independently control theintensity of each spectral component as a function of time. This allowsa user to provide the optimal wavelengths between 380 nm to 690 nm usedby specific marine plant and animal life to support photosynthesisand/or optimum biological development. It provides a single controllablesystem which can also be used to simulate natural lighting conditionsincluding sunrise, daylight, sunset and moonlight to provide a naturalgrowth cycle, or to alter the lighting schedule to enhance growth duringa particular phase of species development. Specific wavelengths can alsobe programmed to enhance the fluorescence and colors of certain speciesof fish and coral.

This system's LED lighting is provided with much greater intensity andlower radiant heat that traditional fluorescent-based lighting systems,changing the formerly high cooling requirements of a complete marinehabitat. Another feature of this lighting technology, which is importantfor promoting and sustaining marine life, is that it does not experiencedegradation of wavelength with age as does fluorescent lighting.Fluorescent's loss of light intensity over time reduces the growth rateof certain species of marine life by minimizing the photosyntheticenergy provided. These variations can also lead to the appearance ofcertain types of organisms such as cyanobacteria in marine habitats thatoccur as different light wavelengths are emitted from degradedfluorescent tubes.

In addition, LEDs are much more efficient than incandescent lamps andequal to or slightly more efficient that most fluorescent lamps. Safetyof the system will also be improved due to low operating voltages andless heat dissipation. The lack of glass bulbs in the system whencompared to all other light sources also improves safety by eliminatingthe explosive failure mode of previous systems.

Specific to the design of this system, the LED light engine can behoused in a waterproof system that, unlike traditional systems, can besubmersed into the marine environment. The ability to secure highintensity lighting at any point within the environment enables light tobe directed at marine life features that reside at depths far fromsurface top-mounted lighting. Marine plants and animals require specificlight intensity for optimal growth. By providing a means to deliverlight of greater intensity, lower power-usage and lower thermal deliverydeeper in a tank than comparable overhead lighting, better growth ofplant and animal life can be achieved at depths previously unable tosustain some types of marine growth.

In general, the system of the present invention includes LED lighting, acontroller, a power supply, a light housing, and a cooling system.Optional software can be included to provide users with completeprogrammable control of spectral, spatial, intensity or pattern of lightoutput. The LED lighting consists of small light engines that areconfigured into a non-submersible top or side lighting system, or usedindependently to create a submersible planar, point, or line source oflight. The LED light engine consists of a cluster of light-emittingdiodes, including both chip, organic and discreet LEDs dependent on thepreferred embodiment of the system. The control system can be configuredwith or without closed loop control, and is the mechanism that allowsfor user or manufacturer programming of lighting period and pattern,spectral content, or spatial content of the light delivered. The coolingsystem uses either natural convection with the air to dissipate heat ina top-mounted lighting system, or through water cooling via conduction,forced water cooling or an air-water loop to cool the submersiblelighting configurations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the marine lighting system in accordancewith the present invention embodied in a top or side-mountconfiguration.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the light engine and configurable housingconfiguration of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the marine lighting system embodied in asubmersible planar light source configuration.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the marine lighting system embodied in asubmersible point light source configuration.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the marine lighting system embodied in asubmersible linear or corner light source configuration.

FIG. 6 is an elevational front view of a lighting system in accordancewith the present invention with a plurality of vertically spaced lightengines.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram for the controller interface and driverelectronics.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a lighting system in accordance with thepresent invention with a plurality of vertically oriented series oflight engines.

FIG. 9 is a top fragmentary view of a portion of a light engine base,with the cover removed.

FIG. 10 is an elevational end view of the light engine base shown inFIG. 9, with the cover in place.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

All of the preferred embodiments of the invention include a lightsource, a light source housing a power supply, a controller, connectioncables, mounting hardware and (when necessary) cooling system.

In the first embodiment, the lighting system is configured into anonsubmersible light source as shown in FIG. 1. The use of LEDs fortop-mounted lighting configurations produces a low profile size systemwhen compared with current incandescent, fluorescent or metalhalide-based lighting systems. In addition to its lower profile size,this configuration will operate with considerably less noise and radiantheat output than comparable fluorescent or metal halide systems.

In FIG. 1, the housing 10 is mounted to the top of a marine habitat andis connected to the controller 11 through a connection cable 14. Thecontroller 11 can include an optional port for a user connection to acomputer that will enable users, through software, to program spatial,spectral and intensity controls. The controller is then connectedthrough a power cable 15 to either a low or high efficiency power supply12 dependent on user options. Attached to the housing is a fan-basedcooling system 13. The system 13 includes a fan housing with one or morefans 16 and a plurality of air inlet vents 18. During operation, thefans 16 draw ambient air through the vents 18 to cool the LED lightsources within the housing 10. The housing 10 also includes mountinghardware for attachment of the housing 10 to the top or side of themarine habitat 17.

The controller 11, which will be described in greater detail below, cancome preprogrammed into a spectral and spatial configuration to sustainand enhance marine plant and animal life, or the settings can beaccessible by the user. The controller can be programmed into a closedloop system to react to local lighting, temperature, or otherenvironmental factors. It can also provide one-way user-programmablecontrol of the lighting period, the spectral content, the spatialcontrol, or the intensity control.

FIG. 2 shows a detail of the LED light engines 19 and housing 10. Thelight engines 19 are constructed on moveable components that allow auser to control their placement on the mounting bars of the lighthousing 10. A user can configure their overhead or side lighting toprovide equal illumination and intensity across the entire top portionof the enclosure, or alternatively, to configure patterns or areas ofgreater light intensity.

Each of the light engines 19 is made up of a plurality or an array orcluster of individual LEDs. Each of the individual LEDs is capable ofproviding a predetermined variable intensity of light (depending on theapplied power) at a predetermined wavelength when provided with a powersource. In accordance with the present invention, the individual LEDshave intensity levels which, when combined in a light engine, provide alight engine 19 which is capable of producing light intensity of between0 and about 1000 or more micromols per square meter per second, and morepreferably between 0 and about 300 micromols per square meter persecond. Each individual LED also preferably emits colors of light at awavelength within the spectral range of 380 nm to 690 nm. In otherwords, each of the individual LEDs emits light of a wavelength in thered through the blue region of the spectrum. Although the preferredembodiment utilizes LEDs which emit light in the 380 nm to 690 nm regionof the spectrum in the form of red, blue and/or green light emittingLEDs, LEDs emitting other colors could be utilized as well. The lightengines, and in particular each of the individual LEDs, is driven by apower source which, in the preferred embodiment is 24 volts of directcurrent. The particular quantity of each type of LED in each lightengine 19 depends on the marine life to be sustained. To sustain certainspecies of marine plant life, each engine might include at least about50% red emitting LEDs and at least about 30% blue emitting LEDs.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, an LED light system comprised of oneor more light engines has been mounted in a planar configuration,equivalent to those components used in the top and/or side mountconfigurations of FIGS. 1 and 2 to comprise a large overhead lightingsystem. In this case, a series of light engines is contained in asubmersible, transparent watertight housing 20. The housing 20 ispreferably combined with a heat circulation system 21. The system 21includes water inlet and outlet ports to dissipate the heat from the LEDvia the surrounding water. Mounting hardware 22 is included to attachthe housing 20 to the sides of the marine habitat 17. Attachment meansmay also be provided to attach to the housing 20 from the bottom of thehabitat 17, or to suspend the housing 20 from the top of the habitat 17.This embodiment will allow for planar light distribution from any angleor depth into the marine environment. The intensity and spectral contentof the light from the light engines can be controlled, via control ofthe individual LEDs within that light engine, to either specificrequirements for a particular marine life or to simulate surfacelighting at a lower depth.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, an LED light cluster 24 has beenmounted into a point configuration. It is contained in a submersible,transparent watertight housing. This light cluster 24 or light enginecomprises a plurality or array of individual LEDs which are controlledor described. The housing may be combined with a heat circulation systemto dissipate the heat from the light cluster 24 or engine out of thesurrounding water. Mounting hardware is provided to attach the light tothe sides of the habitat 17. Means may also be provided to attach thehousing to the bottom or suspend it from the top of the habitat 17. Thisembodiment will allow for directed, controllable light to be isolated ona particular feature in the marine landscape that requires light of aspecific intensity or wavelength to sustain or support its growth.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a number of LED engines 19 have beenmounted into a linear configuration on a mounting rail 25. The rail 25is contained within a submersible, transparent watertight housing 26.The housing 26 is preferably combined with a heat circulation system todissipate the heat from the LED out of the surrounding water. Mountinghardware is included and intended to provide attachment of the lightalong the sides of the marine habitat 17. This mounting system offersusers the ability to light a section of the habitat along a depth orlength and provide spatially or spectrally controlled lightingunobtrusively within the marine landscape.

The control for the light system of the present invention is designed tocontrol the activation (on/off) status of each type of individual LEDswithin each light engine and when activated (on), to control theintensity of each type of the individual LEDs within each light engine.Further, because each type of the individual LEDs emits its ownparticular wavelength of light, the spectral content or quality of eachlight engine is also controlled. In this way, both the intensity and thespectral content or quality of each light engine is controlled. Morespecifically, the control system is designed to provide independentcontrol of the intensity of each spectral component as a function oftime for selection of optimal wavelengths between about 380 nm to about690 nm used by specific marine plant and animal life to supportphotosynthesis and optimal biological development.

The planar mounted design of FIGS. 1 and 2 is designed to provide asingle controllable system to best simulate natural lighting conditionsincluding such things as sunrise, daylight, sunset and moon light toprovide a natural growth cycle for any marine life. Such a system mayalso be used to alter the lighting schedule to enhance growth during aparticular phase of species development.

The submersible embodiments of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 give the ability toprovide high intensity lighting at any point within the habitatenvironment. This enables light to be directed at marine life thatresides at depths far below the natural surface lighting or the topmounted lighting of FIG. 1. By providing submersible light sources suchas shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, better growth of plant and animal life canbe achieved at depths previously unable to sustain some types of marinegrowth. With the submersible embodiments of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, thelighting system can be integrated into a photobioreactor to createlayers of light throughout a growing environment, effectively doublingor tripling the surface area for growth of organisms such as algae.

The basic system of construction is for a series of LED light engines tobe spaced along each required one foot length. Preferably, each lightengine contains a combination of individual LEDs, with each type of LEDemitting its own particular wavelength, preferably between 380 nm and690 nm. Each light engine preferably includes in excess of 100 totalLEDs per square inch of light engine surface. The particular percentageof each type (i.e., wavelength type) of LEDs will depend on the specificmarine life to be sustained and promoted. It is also contemplated thateach light engine would also carry two photodiodes which may be used forclosed loop light output control or as part of a plant growthdetection/light engine engagement system.

Underwater lighting systems used for microalgae growth are alsoinherently subject to algae bloom or photosynthetic bacteria on thelighting surface. Therefore, a level of opaqueness may be experienced atdifferent underwater light levels. This will dictate if the addition ofa cleaning system is required by the user. If it is, the design caninclude the addition of low level ultra-violet LEDs to inhibit growth atthe lighting surface without interfering with marine growth. Further,the housing used in the embodiments described above is produced with anon-leaching antibacterial plastic coating to inhibit growth at thelighting surface. As an alternative, the housing can be provided with amechanical cleaning mechanism to periodically “wipe off” organisms fromeither an enclosed or non-enclosed lighting surface.

The control system preferably contains output controls and a main DCpower supply to support a single light engine or a series of lightengines. A microcontroller within the control assembly will read thecontrol settings and the timer output and send appropriate signals toall light engines over the controller area network (CAN) bus.

On the outside of the control system, individual slider controls areprovided to adjust the output irradiance of each spectral elementindependently. It will also include an illumination level control switchthat will allow the user to manually select the number of light engineswhich are illuminated. A simple programmable digital timer may beprovided to control day/night illumination cycles.

The power supply is a 1500 W, +24 Vdc power supply. The AC input for thepower supply may be standard 120 Vac wall outlet power or 220 Vac at theusers requirement. Twenty-four volt output power from the power supplywill be routed to the power and signal distribution assembly. Thisassembly will provide the connection points to distribute power to eachof the light engines as well as the required fusing. One low currentfuse will be provided for each group of two light engines. In additionto power distribution the assembly will facilitate routing of the CANbus signals to each of the light engines.

The interface electronics of the control system include control signalsdelivered over a two wire (CAN) bus from the main system controller tothe light engine interface microcontroller. Command messages willcontrol the number of light engines to be energized as well as theindividual wavelength output intensities. Since each light engine can beindividually controlled via control of its individual LEDs, the user isable to create lighting effects that mimic additional colors of light,including white, purple, etc. The driver electronics that control theseindividual selections consist of individual light engine selectionswitches and independent wavelength linear current drivers. Power to thedriver electronics is provided by a two wire pair (+24 volt and ground)from the power and signal distribution assembly in the controller.

For those embodiments that have a fan/air cooled system, a small coolingfan will be mounted to the top of each light engine system. Air will bedrawn from the bottom of each light engine system, through the internalcooling channel, over the driver electronics and exhausted through thetop of the unit.

FIG. 6 shows the basic structure of a lighting system in accordance withthe present invention with a series of vertically spaced light engines.Specifically, the structure of FIG. 6 includes a light engine baseassembly 30 and a plurality of vertically spaced LED light engines 31.When used, the entire base 30 and the light engines 31 would be mountedwithin a housing having a substantially transparent surface. Becausethis is primarily an underwater or submersible structure, the housingwould be watertight. The interface electronics 32, the driverelectronics 34 and the cooling mechanism are provided at the top of thelight engine base 30 as shown.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram for the control interface and driverelectronics.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a control assembly and a poweredsignal distribution assembly for controlling a series of vertical LEDlight strips of the type shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of a portion of the light engine base andconnected light engine. Specifically, the base 30 is comprised of analuminum U channel and includes a cooling fin, an interconnect for aprinted circuit board and the interconnections with the light engine.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the light edge and base of FIG. 9 and showssimilar elements.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an LED light systemand method for controlling light to promote and/or sustain marine life(either plant or animal) in a marine habitat. The system includes one ormore light engines mounted to a housing. If the system is designed to besubmersible, the housing must be watertight. Each light engine is madeup of a plurality or an array of individual LEDs (preferably at least 50and more preferably at least 100). Each of these individual LEDs emitslight at a particular wavelength, with all LEDs emitting a similarwavelength comprising a “type” of LED. In the preferred embodiment,these wavelengths are in the 380 nm to 690 nm range and comprise one ofred, blue or green, although other colors could be used as well. Eachtype of LED within a light engine is capable of being activated (on) ordeactivated (off) and, when activated, each type of LED is capable ofhaving its intensity varied as a result of providing variable power.

Each light engine, and in particular each type of LED within a lightengine, is operatively connected to a power source through a controlsystem. The control system is designed to control each type of LEDwithin a light engine, and thus control the light output of each lightengine. Specifically, the control is designed to control the activationstatus (on/off) of each type of LED and, when activated, the intensityof each type of LED. In this way, the intensity and the spectral qualityor content of each light engine can be controlled.

The method aspect of the present invention includes providing a housingwith an LED light source mounted thereto. Such LED light source wouldpreferably include one or more light engines made up of a plurality orarray of individual LEDs as described above. The method would alsoinclude providing a power source and controlling the illumination of thelight engines via controlling the activation status and the intensity ofeach type of LED therein.

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A combination marine habitat and lighting system,comprising: a marine habitat having an open top defined by a top edge;and a lighting system comprising: a housing connectable to the top edgeto substantially cover the open top, the housing including an inner sidefacing the open top when the housing is disposed over the top edge, andan opposite outer side; and an LED light source mounted to the innerside of the housing, the LED light source comprising at least one lightengine having a plurality of individual LEDs.
 21. The combination marinehabitat and lighting system of claim 20, further comprising: a powersupply sufficient to drive the LEDs; and a controller connected with thepower supply for controlling activation status and intensity of one ormore of the individual LEDs.
 22. The combination marine habitat andlighting system of claim 20, wherein the housing is waterproof and theLED light source is mounted within the housing.
 23. The combinationmarine habitat and lighting system of claim 20, wherein the LED lightsource, when activated, is sufficient to support marine growth.
 24. Thecombination marine habitat and lighting system of claim 20, wherein theLED light source includes at least one of chip-based, organic ordiscreet LEDs.
 25. A lighting system for marine growth in a marinehabitat having an open top, comprising: a housing disposed over the opentop of the marine habitat; and an LED light source disposed on an innerside of the housing facing the open top of the marine habitat, the LEDlight source comprising at least one light engine having a plurality ofindividual LEDs.
 26. The lighting system of claim 25, furthercomprising: a power supply sufficient to drive the LEDs; and acontroller connected with the power supply for controlling activationstatus and intensity of one or more of the individual LEDs.
 27. Thelighting system of claim 25, wherein the housing is waterproof and theLED light source is mounted within the housing.
 28. The lighting systemof claim 25, wherein the LED light source, when activated, is sufficientto support the marine growth.
 29. The lighting system of claim 25,wherein the LED light source includes at least one of chip-based,organic or discreet LEDs.